Cannabis Use Linked to Higher Stroke Odds
Adults who use cannabis more often showed higher odds of stroke and cardiovascular disease in a large U.S. survey.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Heart Disease
Preliminary research presented ahead of the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions links cannabis use to higher odds of cardiovascular disease, especially stroke. The study, drawn from U.S. adults surveyed across 16-24 states, is observational and cannot show that cannabis causes heart disease.
Why it matters
As cannabis use has grown among U.S. adults, its cardiovascular effects have become a practical question for people managing heart health and for their clinicians. The findings suggest that frequency of use may matter, with stroke showing the clearest association, though the researchers cannot establish cause and effect.
This cross-sectional analysis drew on 442,906 U.S. adults surveyed in 16-24 states during 2020-2024 and adjusted for tobacco, alcohol, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, inactivity, education and income. The findings are associational and preliminary, and cannot establish that cannabis causes cardiovascular disease.
The players
American Heart Association
The leading U.S. nonprofit focused on cardiovascular health, known for its guidelines, research funding and annual Scientific Sessions.
Tulane University
A New Orleans-based research university whose affiliated investigator authored the study.
The details
Participants reported how many days they used cannabis in the previous month, and whether a health professional had ever diagnosed them with cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, or coronary heart disease. The researchers then compared the odds of those diagnoses across levels of use while accounting for other risk factors. The stroke signal was strongest at both low and heavy use frequencies, while the association with heart attack was not statistically significant.
Timeline
Cannabis-use data analyzed in the study were collected between 2020 and 2024.
The research will be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago, November 6-9, 2026.
Health Landscape
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System has long tracked U.S. adult health behaviors, and its marijuana module now lets researchers link use patterns to heart outcomes. The finding adds to a growing body of research on cannabis and cardiovascular health, where evidence is still developing and often observational.
If you use cannabis, it is worth raising your frequency of use and any cardiovascular history with your doctor during your next checkup. Because the findings are observational, they should prompt a conversation rather than a change to any medication or treatment on your own.
The takeaway
Cannabis use was associated with higher odds of stroke in this large national survey, though the study cannot prove cause. Mention your cannabis use honestly with your clinician as part of routine heart health discussions.
What happens next
The full study will be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago, November 6-9, 2026.
Further reading
For more on how lifestyle and substance use affect the heart, browse our Heart Disease coverage.
